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118
:fetuTai ILrgiflatttrr.
HOOSEOfRE PRESENTATSVI r .
Monday, May 23.
f I ‘’IIE order of the day was called for
JL lipon the report of the committee of
claims, to whom was referred the peti
tion ol the widow cf rhe late General
Greene. After fomedebate on this fub
jeft, in thecourfe of which the Speaker
read in his place a letter he had received
from the Secretary of the War depart
ment, inconfequenccofa refutation paiied
on Saturday, calling for a letter which
had been written by the late Colonel
Burnett) to the late Secretary of War,
declaring, that no such letter could be
iound m the War-Office, and Mr. Colt
ipoke at con Adorable length againfl: the
claim. At length the quelliou was put
and carried in favor of the report, there
being 51 members in the affirmative.
The committee then rose, the lioufe took
up the confide ration, when, on motion
01 Mr. Blount (who fa id he had intend
ed to have made fome observations on
the fibjeft, but finding the majority so
large in favor of the report, he could not
believe what he (hould fay would have
any effect) the yeas and nays were taken.
Yeas 36. —Nays 26.
1 he resolution was referred to the
committee of claims to report a bill.
By this determination the union will
have to pay betwixt 11 and 12,000
sterling.
Tucfday, May 24.
Mr. Nicholas, from the committee
appointed to confer with a committee of
the fcoat e, on the fubjeft of their amend
ment? to the bill from the senate, for
the relief of persons imprisoned for debt,
reported, that it was the opinion of the
joint committee that the house of repre
sentatives Ihould recede from their
amendments, and that the hill fnould
pass with certain other amendments.
The order of the day was then enter
ed upon on the bill providing for cer
tain debts of the United States, and the
house formed itfeifintoa committee of
the whole on the business, Mr. Swift in
the chair; when a debate took place,
which took up the whole cf the fitting,
‘fhe result of this debate was, to nega
tive the following amendment proposed
b-y the senate to Uribe out a prov ifion
in the aft assent from the House of
Reprefentativcs, to this effeft, “ provi
ded that no such flock ihall be fold un
der par, and that whenever the said
flock shall be fold for more than par,
the surplus or premium on alt inch
faies shall accrue to the benefit of the
Uni’ed States, and lhall be paid into the
treasury thereof find to adopt another
amendment of the Senate in the follow
ing words, “ And it lhall be lawful for
the commiflioners of the finking fund, if
they shall find the fame to be moil ad
vantageous to fell such and so many of
the shares of the Bank of the United
States as they may think proper, and
that they apply the proceeds thereof to
the payment of the laid debts, instead of
felling certificates, of itock m the man
ner preferibed by this aft.” To this
was added an amendment to this ef
feft ;
“ And such of the revenues of the
United States heretofore appropriated
for the payment of imereti on such debts
fas shall .be paid with the monies pro
ceeding from the file of Bank Stock)
lhall be and the fame is hereby pledged
and appropriated towards paying thein
terefl and the inilalments of the principal
which shall hereafter become due on the
loan of two million of dollars obtained
from the bank of the United States, for
the purpose ofpaying the shares of Bank
Stock belonging to” the United States,
and direfted by this leftion to be fold.”
The committee role and reported the
amendments.
A mellage was received from the sen
ate, informing the house, that they had
receded from their amendments to the
bill refpefting the erection of new ports
of entry, Ac. that they had agreed to
the bill for the relief and protection of
American seamen ; and that they had
resolved that the bill authoring the
President to caufc to be surveyed the
poll road from Portland in Maine, to
Savannah in Georgia, do not pass.
W ednefday, May 23.
On motion, the report of the com
mittee appointed to confer with the
Senate on the fubjeft of their dlfagrce
ment with refpeft to the amendments
proposed to the bill tor relict of persons
imprisoned for debt,’ was taken up and
agreed to. As,the bill now Hands, the
plan of accommodating tlfe laws es the
United States, to the Hate in which an
.adron ihould be brought, is done a wav,
and an uniform plan i s adopted through
out the union, which allows no man to
Columbia it jhlufeum, £&♦
[ be imprisoned for debr, who furrrnder:.
! his property, and swears or affirms be
is not worth more than 30 dolk.rs. By
leaving this Aim, it is meant that a man
ihould not be deprived of his tools, oce.
so as to render him unable to cam iris
future living.
The liouie went into a committee of
the who\e on the bill to indemnity the
cilate of the late major-General Greene,
from tie payment of a certain bond, for
11,297 b sterling, which was said to be
given on account of government. A
ter a few observations, it vvx. agre. and to,
and ordered to be read a tin. ! tune to
clav. It was afterwards read a third
time, and paiied by the yeas and nays be
ing taken.
1 he order of the day wa; next enter
ed upon, which was the amendment a
grecd to in the committee of the whole
on tlie bill, with the amendments from
the Senate, making prov ifion for toe
payment of certain debts of the United
States. When the house came to the
amendment of the Senate, winch ha ,
becnapreed to incommittceof the whcV-..
authorizing the conwidii ners of r :c
finking fund to fell luch (mires of the.
flock of the bank of the United St tey.
belonging to the United States, as they
may think proper—Mr. W. Smith,
moved an amendment, viz. “ That it
ihould npt be lawful for the said com
mifficners to fell any ffiareor shares for
a Icls rate or prior than 33 1-3 per cent,
advance thereon.” This motion occa
sioned very considerable debate. It was
predicated on this ground ; that as the
Hock to be created at 6 jcr cent, was
not to be fold for less than par, neither
ought the bank flock, which produced
8 per cent, to be fold for less than 133
1-3 percent. /
On the other hand, it was said that,
since the bank mull have paid them
forthwith, two millions of dollars at
lead, the commimoners of the finking
fund ought to oe left at liberty to fell
the bank flock at the bed price they
could get, pro. ided the new flock crea
ted would not fell at par, otherwise the
bank would not be paid at all, since the
prelent was not more than 127 per cent.
This motion was loft, 47 to 33. Mr.
W. Smith then moved to insert, “ pro
vided it be not fold under the present
ina.xet price.” This was objected to
as being an indefinite expression, and
because what might be the present mar
ket price, might not be the price when
the flock was fold. Mr. Macon mov
ed to strike out “present,” and Mr.
Smith to strike out ot the whole amend
ment, and to insert, “ provided that it
be fold under 123 per cent.” The
queflion was taken upon this amendment
oy the yeas and nays.— Yeas 33—Nays
49.
Amefilige was received from the Pre
sident ol the United States, with the
following communication :
“ Gentlemen of the Senate, and of the
House of Reprfjentatm.es ,
“ The measures now in,operation for
taking poffeiiion of the posts of Detroit
and iVlichibmachinac, render it proper
that provision should be made for extend
ing to thole places, and any other like
cireumibnccd, the civil authority of
the Northweflern Territory. To do
this will require an expcnce, to defray
which the ordinary laiaries of the Go
vernor and Secretary of that territory,
appear to be incompetent. The form
ing of anew county or counties, and the
appointment of the various officers,
which the just exercise of government
mufl require, will oblgc the Governor
and Secretary to visit tliofe places, and
to spend considerable time in making the
arrangements necenary for introducing
and eftabufning the government of the
United States; Congress will confider
what in this caie win be proper.”
George Washington.
United States, May 23.
LONDON, April 7.
k eflerday we received the lad cf the
Hamburg mails due, which scarcely
brings an article of intelligence worth
reporting.
In this mail, as in many that have
preceded it, there are numerous reports
refpefting peace and war, which, in our
opinion, deserve little or no credit. And
as from this state ot uncertainty and
(peculation, it is probable tnat such ru
mours will continue to be afloat, until
either a negociation is actually set on
foot, or the campaign is opened, we
think it may not be unimportant to make
an observation on this head.
from the knowledge we have of the
state oi affairs in this country, we have
every rcafon to believe, that our min
iiters have no expectation at present of
a peace. This does not arise from any
indifpofuion ot theirs to treat for peace,
but from the high language which the
i Executive Direftorv is {fill supposed to
hold in regard to the terms of it. But
as the obiiruetion lies with the French
govern neat, and not with us, for it is
impombie to depend from day to day,
whether the latter may not think fit to
aba 1 on their lofty pretensions, before
another fatal blow is ft ruck.
Hence, then, it wfiil be perceived,
tbar let men be ever so well informed of
the fta.e of affairs at home, they may
p • ’ ps be the very work informed in
relpect to the event. The Executive
dir Tory may unexpeftedly alter their
t ne, and incline to peace ; and, if we
may judge from the Baris Gazettes,
thi would appear to be the case at pre
ai i. At tne fame time, it is neceflary
to remark, that these journals are not
altogether to be depended on, and that
if is on facts only that have occurred
“t the public ought to place a strict
reliance.
A monument to the memory of the
arl Mansfield, is preparing for
\A ■[. liter Abbey, under the will of a
peUV. unknown to that learned Lord,
■ r any part of his family ; the sum be
queathed for fitat purpose is 25001.
DUBLIN, February 27.
Ti e unfortunate boy, of the name of
h rick • lart, who was found guilty 01
hign 1 .on, after a trial which occu
pied tlie whole of Wednesday, and did
not end until Thurfttay morning, ap
peared to be about sixteen years of age.
His conduft, during the whole of the
awful iceiie, was marked with uncom
mon fortitude. He flood with hie irons
on all the time, which exhibited a flrong
contrail with the tuckers which he wore
round his fhirtneck, and the youth and
innocence of his countenance. When
the fatal verdict guilty was pro
nounced, he heard it with a decent firm
nefs, which interested the spectators Hill
more mala mnoly doom.
Hart was apprentice to a Skinner in
Wading street, whodepofed on the tri
al that he was never out of his bed after
eleven o’clock at night—and that prev
ious to his having been apprehended, he
was always a g..od and dutiful boy.
His father, it appears,- is a rei’peftable
farmer, at Summer-hill, Meath.
Hart, we underhand, was offered the
mercy ox the crown, previous to his tri
al, if he would submit and acknowledge
ius crime, but he obuinately refilled tne
advice ot his own counsel to thateffeft.
KINGSTON, May 6.
By a letter from the Captain of the
ship Jemmy, in government service, we
learn, that on the evening of the 22a
u’lt. he failed from Port au-Prince for
jeremie, with General Boyer and his
fu.'t on boaiu, in company with the lhips
Markham and Harriet, and, at eleven
next morning, they discovered four fail
(armed vefiels from Guana loupe) inshore,
which they ilood after ; and a firing
commenced between the headmofl, (a
Hoop mounting two eighteen pounders)
find the Markham, who soon Ilood out.
‘1 he Jemmy then flood in, determined
to take her and came near enough to uie
ti.eir mufquetry, when the sloop bore
away to run aftiore, afehooner that was
in company being ashore to Leeward,
finding it not poifible to stand farther,
the Jemmy wore fit ip and got aground,
where she continued sass for fome hours;
during which time, General Boyer went
on board tlie Harriet.
While the Jemmy was aground they
were fired upon from the shore by the
mufquetry, which however fome round
and grape ftioc soon rid them of.—The
sloop continued to rake them with 18
pound shot which luckily did little dam
age. One man was killed and two
wounded of the Jemmy’s crew aid two
llightly wounded of Gen. Bo rers guard.
They fired upwards ot 200 round fliot
and near the fame quantity of grape from
the Jemmy, and every i ftdier (about
30) upwards of 100 rounds 01 bullets.
BOSTON, May 23.
Capt. Cook, from St. Pierre, Mar
tinique, left there April 20, and informs,
that previous to his falling, Admiral
Laforey lud proceeded to Barbadoes, in
order to be active in operations about
to take place, as a large number of troops
from England, had arrived : that on the
18th April, a fleet puffed in fight of
Martinique, which appeared to be of
200 fail; hefaw them to the leeward of
Guadeloupe, and supposed they were
defiined againfl the French at Hifpar.i
ola ; that troops had been sent to St.
Vincents, and about April 12, an ac
tion took place between them and the
Brigandsand Chariabs, which ended in
the driving off the latter from the fiekl
of battle, where 300 of them were found
dead. The Engliih loft 10 rank and
file, and many officers killed and wound
ed.
GRENADA.
About the ift of April, the Englifl,
being reinforced, took Fort Royal and
Pilot Hill, from the French and Chari,
abs ; the former place by florin,
French, the account fays loft 300 men ■
the English 120 killed and wounded. *
His excellency the Vice-Prefidentof
the United States, has arrived at his
feat at Braintree, from Philadelphia
The hon. Samuel Livermore, is cho
fen Prefidentof the senate, pro hu e mice’
NEW-YORK, May 26. >
Extras of a letter from AmfterdamAAanh
22,1 79 6, to a merchant in Philadelphia.
“L Fayette it free, and already
on ins paflage to America.” J
.Mr. King hai accepted of ids ap
pointment, as Mmifter to London • a 4
ha? reigned his feat in the Senate oi die
United States, in’ onfequence ther>x T
May 23”
Vv e lately gave an article from a Lon
ion paper of the 3d of April, which ft a .
tiic probability of a recommence
nent of hoflilities by the Alterir.es a”
gainil the United States. We obfeit
cd, that the assertion was unaccompani
ed by any mention of fads, on whidh
nos probability could appear to be
grounded. Yeiterday we were favored
wxtii a letter written by Capt. o‘Brien
i° a citizen of this place, dated at I if ‘
oon, ti.e 2d of April, and received by
■ va > P Philadelphia, which gives fonie
corroboration to the above account -
although it also leaves us in tlie dark r>’ s
to the circum-ftanett which could o ma- 1
lion this hidden departure from the trea
ty. The following we have extracted
from the letter :
” I am employed in the service of
the United States. I expect shortly to
proceed for Algiers ; from thence I
hope to return to Philadelphia, and it is
liKely I lhall have the pleasure of fe.-ffitr
y° u and many others of my cflecmed
trxends.
Oar affairs with Algiers is not so
favorable at present, as is generally 7-
agtned.”
The violation of a treaty f 0 recently
entered into, would, indeed, only aid
one more to the many breaches of this
nature, committed in the old world •
and would particularly apply to m the
observations, on this fubjeft, of a hue
writer on the history of Poland, who
fays, “ But treaties and guarantees are
in general only adhered to, until they
can be broken with impunity theon
iy *-.llxlolll method for any state to ft
cuie its dominions, is to makeitfelf res
pectful by mjlrcngth and unanimity, and
to be prepared againfl: any attacks.”
The troops at Weil-Point, have been
notified in general orders, to hold thom
felves in readiness to march at a moments
warning. Private letters, it i s fad,
mtntion, tiiat a battalion of troeps are
coming from the southward, tha/they
will join thole now at the Point, and
rrom wuence that two battalions will he
ordered to the Western frontiers.
A committee of the Senate have re
ported againfl: receiving the state of Te
liedce into the Union, at the present
• tine, allcdging that agreeable to the deed
of cession from the ilate of Virginia,
Congreis muit lay oft the territory in
one or more llates, and that the enume
ration mu it then be taken under the ai>
thoiity of Congress. They recom
nie..Ai, that a bill Ixe brought in laying
out the whole of the said territory into
one date, and providing tor an enume
ration oi the inhabitants thereof. This
would delay their admiftion ; the Houle
of Representatives have decided in la
yout oi their admission now.
The Courier Francais of Philadel
phia, contains the following article :
“ It appears that neither French nor
Spanish forces are arrived at St. Do
dhngo, as has been reported. The
Frenchfquadron is llill at Cadiz. Spain
lias net yot declared herielf, and the de
parture of Saathonax is itili delayed.”
May 30.
DEMARARA TAKEN.
By the Sally, capt. Lathrop, arrived
ydlerday, from Dcmara, vve have ac
counts of the surrender of that place to
tuc British forces under Major General
White, and capt. Parr, of the Navy, 0:1
tne 22d of April, without any refftt
ance. ‘I he inhabitants were to re main
undisturbed in their possessions, and the
colony is to enjoy the fame privileges,
as the British : until a.:/ regulation?
w hieh may take place hereafter, refrac
ting the Stadtholder,
No. qo.